| 1 | Karen Hutcheson | GBR | 4:13,47 | Q |
| 2 | Paula Ivan | ROM | 4:14,59 | Q |
| 3 | Laima Baikauskaite | URS | 4:14,72 | Q |
| 4 | Rita Marquard | FRG | 4:15,52 | |
| 5 | Christine Toonstra | NED | 4:17,46 |
| 1 | Malgorzata Rydz | POL | 4:11,15 | Q |
| 2 | Marina Lashmenyeva | URS | 4:11,35 | Q |
| 3 | Svetlana Kitova | URS | 4:11,38 | Q |
| 4 | Yvonne Mai | GDR | 4:11,57 | q |
| 5 | Malin Ewerlöf | SWE | 4:14,05 | q |